Corner grinding machine



Oct. 22, 1940..

P. J. KIRKMAN CORNER GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1940.

P. J. KIRKMAN 2,218,647

CORNER GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cittomcg Patented Oct. 22, 1940 CORNER GRINDING MACHINE Peter J. Kirkman, Ottawa, 111., aasignor m Libbey- Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 14, 1940, Serial No. 335,092

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to grinding machines in general and more particularly to an improved machine for grinding the corners of sheets or plates of glass and the like to remove the rough or sharp edges thereof and obtain smooth, well finished surfaces.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the above character effective for grinding two opposite corners of the glass sheets or plates simultaneously in a rapid, accurate, and economical manner.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the above character which is of relatively simple, inexpensive construction, yet positive and eificient in operation and which will serve to grind the opposite corners of the glass sheets or plates evenly and uniformly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a corner grinding machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine, partially in section;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the means for supporting the glass sheets or plates during grinding.

With reference now to .the drawings, the grinding machine comprises a stationary supporting framework Iii upon which are mounted the vertical grinding wheels II and 12. The grinding wheels are horizontally spaced from one another and positioned to rotate about horizontal axes, each grinding wheel being prefer-ably provided in its periphery with a plurality of grooves l3 for receiving the corners of the sheets or plates of glass or the like It to be ground. The

a glass sheets H are supported on edge in a vertical position above the grinding wheels H and I2 'by horizontal supporting means designated in its entirety by the numeral IS.

The grinding wheels II and 12 are maintained in relatively fixed position during the grinding operation, while the glass sheets l4 are moved downwardly to bring the two opposite corners a and b thereof to be ground into engagement with the grinding wheels H and I2 respectively whereby to effect the simultaneous rounding of said corners, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. Thus, the corners a of the glass sheets are received inthe grooves 13 of grinding wheel II and the corners b in the grooves of grinding wheel l2. After the glass sheets have been properly ground, they are moved upwardly out of engagement with the grinding wheels as shown in full lines in Fig. l, whereupon they are removed and another group of sheets to be treated brought into position for grinding.

More specifically, the supporting frame It is preferably substantially rectangular both in side elevation and top plan and comprises the spaced vertical legs 5-16 at one end thereof and similar legs l'l-|'l at the opposite end. Extending between and carried by the pair of legs at each end of the supporting frame I0 is a horizontal transverse member l8, while extending longitudinally of the frame and carried by the opposed legs l6 and I? are the horizontal members l9 and 20 supported'intermedliate their ends by vertical legs 2I2I. Carried upon the top of the longitudinally extending members l8 and 20 are the stationary rails or slides 22 and 23 respectively for supporting the grinding units A and B which include the grinding wheels H and 12 respectively.

The grinding wheel ll of grinding unit A is mounted upon one end of a horizontal shaft 24 journaled in spaced bearings 25 and 26 carried by horizontal base plates 21 and 28 which are slidable along the fixed rails 22 and 23 respectively. Also mounted upon .the base plate 28 is a motor 29 for driving the grinding wheel ll. To this end, the shaft 30 of motor 29 has keyed thereto a gear 3| meshing with a gear 32 fixed to the shaft 24 of grinding wheel ll. Upon operation of the motor 29, rotation will be imparted to the grinding wheel I I through the intermeshing gears 3| and 32.

The grinding unit B is of substantially the same construction as grinding unit A, and to this end the grinding wheel [2 thereof is keyed to one end of a horizontal shaft 33 mounted in spaced bearings which are slidable along the rails 22 and 23 in the same manner as the bearings 25 and 26 of grinding unit A. The shaft 33 of grinding wheel I2 is driven from a motor 34 also through intermeshing gears (not shown).

The grinding units A and B are preferably adjustable horizontally toward and away from one another to vary the distance between the grinding wheels H and [2 according to the size of glass sheets being ground. This adjustment may be effected manually in the following manner:

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided at the outer end of the base plate 23 slidable along rail 23 a vertical ear 35, while carried by the supporting frame ill, in alignment with said ear,

5 ,is a bearing 35. Threaded through the bearing 35 and having its inner end rotatably secured within ear 35 is a horizontal adjusting screw 31 provided at its outer end with an operating handie 33 to facilitate rotation thereof.

As will be apparent, upon turning of the handle 38 to rotate screw 31, the base plate 23 and motor 29 carried thereby can be moved inwardly or outwardly as desired along rail 23. In order to effect simultaneous movement of the corresponding base plate 21 along rail 22, there is carried by said base plate an ear 39 similar to ear 35 on base plate 28, while a bearing similar to bearing 35 is carried by the supporting framework 10. Associated with the ear 39 and corresponding bearing is a horizontal adjusting screw 4|! similar to screw 31. Carried by the adjusting screws 3'! and 40 are sprockets 4| and 42 respectively about which is trained a sprocket chain 43 which serves to impart rotation of screw 31 to screw 40. In this way, the base plates 21 and 28 can be moved in unison along the rails 22 and 23 to properly position the grinding wheel I I.

The grinding unit B can be similarly adjusted along the rails 22 and 23 by means of the horizontal adjusting screws 44 and 45 carrying sprockets 45 and 41 respectively about which is trained a sprocket chain 45. Each adjusting screw 44 and 45 is carried at one end by a sleeve 49 rotatable in the upper end of a bracket 50 secured to the respective rail 22 or 23, while the opposite end of said screw is threaded through a nut 5i carried at the upper end of a bracket 52 secured to the respective base plate 28 or 29. One of the adjusting screws, for example screw 44, is provided with an operating handle 53 and, upon rotation thereof, the motor 34 and grinding wheel I! can be moved in'unison along the rails 22 and 23.

The supporting means l5 for the glass sheets or 5 plates i4 comprises a longitudinally extending, U-shaped channel member 54 having a bottom 55 and vertical side walls 55 and 51, said channel member being carried at the opposite ends of the supporting frame in from standards or the 50 like 58 and 59. Mounted within the channel member 54 between the grinding wheels I I and I2 is a vertically movable, horizontal platform 50 carrying a mat 5| preferably of rubber, rubber composition, or the like, and provided upon its 55 upper surface with a plurality of grooves 52 for receiving the bottom edges of the glass sheets l4 therein. The bottom 55 of channel member 54 is cut away above the grinding wheels II and I2, as indicated at 53, so that the horizontal platform 50 50 can be moved vertically to assume either the upper full line position or the lowered broken line position in Fig. 1. For the purpose of guiding the platform 50 in its vertical movements, it is pro- 'vided at each side thereof and at its opposite ends with outwardly directed ears 54 and 55 slidable within vertical guideways. formed by the inturned flanges 55 and 51 carried by and disposed inwardly of and parallel with the side walls 55 and 51 of the channel member 54.

Arranged within the channel member 54 at one side of the platform 50 is a series of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers 58 and at the opposite side thereof a series of similar conveyor rollers 59, said rollers 53 and 59 being also preferably provided with grooves which are adapted to align with the grooves 52 in the platform 55 when said platform is in raised position. In this manner, the glass sheets 14 to be ground can be moved along the rollers 53 onto the platform 50 and after being ground can be pushed I from said platform onto the rollers 55.

The sheet supporting platform 50 is normally urged upwardly into its full line inoperative position in Fig. 1 and is adapted to be moved downwardly by the operator when it is desired to effect 10 the grinding of the corners a and b of the glass sheets. To accomplish this, there is provided a substantially horizontal foot lever 15 pivoted at its rear end as at H to the framework l5 and provided at its forward end with a foot pedal I2. 15 Carried by the sheet supporting platform 55 is a depending rod 13 connected at its lower end by means of a turn-buckle 14, with a second rod 15 pivoted at its lower end as at 15 to the foot lever 15. Upon downward pressure upon the foot pedal 50 12, the platform 50 and glass sheets l4 thereon will be moved to lowered grinding position, while upon release of such pressure the said platform is automatically returned to and maintained in raised position by tension springs 11 and 18 se- 25 cured at their lower ends to the foot lever 10 and at their upper ends to the side walls 55 and 51 of channel member 54. The amount of material removed from the corners a and b of the glass sheets when moved to lowered position or, in other words, the extent of the grinding operation can be varied by controlling the length of time the glass sheets are engaged with the grinding wheels and the pressure of the glass against said wheels. 35

The grinding apparatus herein provided can be used either in connection with the so-cailed Weber type of edging machine to receive the glass sheets therefrom or it can be employed by itself as an individual machine. If the grinding appa- 4o ratus is arranged at the end of a Weber type machine to receive the glass sheets therefrom, the conveyor rollers 55 should be arranged in horizontal alignment with the conveyor rollers of said Weber machine. After the corners a and b 45 of the glass sheets l4 have been properly ground, I the sheets can then be moved over the conveyor rollers 53 to the desired location or to another machine where the sheets can be further treated.

It is to be understood that the form of the in- 50 vention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the 55 scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for grinding the corners of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a vertically movable horizontal platform for supporting the 9 sheet to be ground on edge in a vertical position, horizontal conveyor means arranged at opposite sides of said platform and along which the sheet may be moved onto the platform prior to grinding and from said platformsubsequent to grinding, a pair of rotatable grinding wheels, means for mounting said grinding wheels to rotate about axes fixed with respect to one another beneath said conveyor means, means for normally maintaining said platform in substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor means, and means for lowering the said platform to bring two opposite corners only of the sheet into engagement with said grinding wheels to grind the said corners simultaneously. 75

2. In a machine for grinding the corners of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a vertically movable horizontal platform for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a vertical position, horizontal conveyor means arranged at opposite sides of said platform and along which the sheet may be moved onto the platform prior to grinding and from said platform subsequent to grinding, a pair of rotatable grinding wheels, means for mounting said grinding wheels to rotate about axes fixed with respect to one another beneath said conveyor means, manually operated means for lowering said platform to bring two opposite corners only of the sheet into engagement with said grinding wheels to grind the said corners simultaneously, and spring means operable to raise the said platform into substantially horizontal alignment with said conveyor means and to maintain it in such position upon the release of said lowering means by the operator.

3. In a machine for grinding the comers of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a pair of rotatable grinding wheels, means for mounting said grinding wheels to rotate about horizontal axes fixed with respect to one another, a horizontal channel member arranged above said grinding wheels having a bottom and opposite side walls, the bottom of said channel member being cut away above said grinding wheels, a vertically movable platform mounted between the side wall of said channel member above said grinding wheels and adapted to support the sheet to be ground on edge in a vertical position,

two series of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at opposite sides of said platform and along which the sheet may be moved onto' the platform prior to grinding and from said platform subsequent to grinding, means for normally maintaining said platform in substantially horizontal alignment with said series of conveyor rollers, means for lowering said platform to bring two opposite corners only of the sheet into engagement with said grinding wheels to grind the said comers simultaneously, and coacting means 'on the platform and side walls of said channel member for guiding said platform in its vertical movements.

4. In a machine for grinding the corners of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a pair of rotatable grinding wheels, means for mounting said grinding wheels to rotate about horizontal axes fixed with respect to one another, a horizontal channel member arranged above said grinding wheels having a bottom and opposite side walls, the bottom 'of said channel member being cut away above said grinding wheels, a vertically movable platform mounted between the side walls of said channel member above said grinding wheels and adapted to support the sheet to be ground on edge in a vertical position, two series of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers arranged at opposite sides of said platform and along which the sheet may be moved onto the platform prior to grinding and from said platform subsequent to grinding, manually op erated means for lowering said platform to bring two oppositecorners only of the sheet into engagement with said grinding wheels to grind the said corners simultaneously, spring means operable to raise said platform into substantially horizontal alignment with the two series of conveyor rollers and to maintain it in such position upon the release of said lowering means by the operator, and vertical guideways provided upon the side walls of said channel member and within which portions of said platform are received to guide the said platform in its vertical movements.

PE'IER J; MAN. 

